All-weather crutch



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Ime/afar G. E. EVENS ALL-WEATHER CRUTCH Filed June 23, 1949 Oct. 24,1950 Patented Oct. 24, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,527,180ALL-WEATHER CRUTCH George E. Evens, Needham, Mass. Y Application Juno2s, 1949, serialv No. 100,818

2 Claims.

This invention relates to crutches and the object is to provide a simpleand effective construction having alternatively usable ground-engagingelements, the construction being one capable of quick adjustment tochange from one such element to the'other and not 'subject to gettingout of order.

'Io prevent slipping crutches are commonly provided `with tips ofrubber, frequently with fabric or other friction material exposed in theface thereof. Such a ground-engaging element is indequate when ice andsnow are encountered. Under such circumstances a spike or a calk wouldbe desirable. However, the user would sooner or later enter a housewherein the use of such a calk would be inadmissible.

I am aware that it has been proposed to provide crutches with calksadjustable to operative position. `Some such arrangements were heavy andclumsy and presented projecting parts likely to catch the clothing orexternal objects. Devices having movable parts or joints closelyadjacent the ground-engaging end of the crutch would with use accumulateslush or snow thereon and freeze up so that it became diincult orimpossible to manipulate them. In accordance with the present inventiona construction is provided free of such disadvantages.

The invention will be well understood by reference to the followingdescription of the illustrative embodiment thereof shown by way ofexample in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a face elevation of a crutch illustrative of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an edge elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary face View on an enlarged scale, showing apreferred form of latch mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the latch released;

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the parts seen in Fig. 3, as viewed from theright; and

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings, I there show a crutch having an arm rest I0supported by two side members I 2 which latter are spanned by thehand-grip I4. The side members I2 do not extend to the ground but theirlower ends are disposed in spaced parallel relation and joined by ahorizontal pivot I6 on which is pivoted centrally a reversible leg I8.The pivot I6 is a substantial distance above the ground, say at leastankle high, out of the way of ordinary accumulations of snow, slush andthe like on the ground. About a foot from the ground would be a suitableand desirable position.

The leg I8 carries at one end. a tip 20 of rubber or the like, and atthe other end a calk or spike 22. It will be clear that the leg I8 maybe Aswung from the position of Fig. 1 and through the dotted lineposition in Fig. 2 through.anongie of to present the calk 22 at theextreme lower end of the crutch instead of the tip 20, suitable meanssuch as those hereinafter described being provided for releasablylocking the leg in either of these relatively reversed positions. Theparal-` lel portions of the side members I2 support the leg providing arelatively long bearing for the same vas against twisting forces exertedin the plane of the paper, viewing Fig. 1, which occur in the normal useof the crutch.

The means herein shown for selectively securing leg I8 in either of itstwo positions comprises (see Figs. 3 through 6) a latch lever 24pivotally mounted on one of the side members I2 in a position above thepivot I6, which lever in the horizontal position of Fig. 3, engagesunder one or the other of two hook-like members 26 respecti-vely locatedon opposite :faces of the leg at opposite sides of the pivot I6. Hereinthese members are received between forwardly projecting flanges 28 onthe lever 24. The other end of the latch lever, at the right in Fig. 3,in its closed position engages behind a keeper 30 on the other sidemember I2, and is retained by a swinging detent 32 having a shoulder 34engaging over the upper edge of the latch lever (see Fig. 3). A spring40 tends to press the detent to the engaged position of Fig. 3, themotion being limited by stop 38. One end of the lever v24 may be bentoutwardly to handle portion 24h. A releasing lever 42 is pivoted on thishandle member for a rotational movement limited by the pin and slotconnection 44, Fig. 5. This releasing lever normally rests in theposition shown, with a portion extending downwardly below the handleportion 24h of the latch. When the handle member is grasped by thefingers the normally closing movement thereof rocks this member 42clockwise, viewing Fig. 5, causing its cam-like edge to operate on theprojection 46 on the side of the detent 32, and presses the detent backto release the latch lever which may then be swung upwardly by thegrasping hand to the open position of Fig. 4, thereby releasing the legI8 for reversal. The edge of the detent 32 above the shoulder 34 isprovided with a sloping portion 48 (Figs. 5 and 6) engaged by the latchlever 24 when it is swung back from the open position of Fig. 4, so thatthe detent will be pressed back to spring forward again when the latchlever has passed.

The latching means as a whole is at a relatively high elevation, out ofthe way of snow, etc. on the ground. Its construction is simple. Thelever 24 is long and provides a favorable leverage for releasing thesame from the hook 26 if falling snow is accumulated therein. Theanchoring of the two ends of the lever 24 when it is closed, at widelyspaced points on the two side members I2, contributes strength, and thelever also effectively maintains the leg in position against strains ina plane perpendicular to the paper, viewing Fig. 1. The leg i8 is easyto grasp and to turn when its reversal is desired. v

I am aware that the invention may be embodied in other specic formswithout departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and Itherefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respectsas illustrative and not restrictive, as is in fact clear in severalmatters from the description itself. Reference is to be had to theappended claims to indicate those principles of the invention exempliedby the particular embodiment described and which I desire to secure byLetters Patent.

11. A crutch comprising an arm rest and two side pieces, a leg pivotedcentrally of its length between the two side pieces on a horizontal axisat least ankle high, the ends of the leg carrying respectively afriction tip and a calk, a, latch bar pivoted to one side member abovesaid axis for releasably engaging the leg to maintain it in verticalposition, and a keeper for the latch bar on the other side member.

2. A crutch comprising an arm rest and tw side pieces, a leg pivotedcentrally of its length between the two side pieces on a horizontal axisat least ankle high, the ends of the leg carrying respectively afriction tip and a calk, a Alatch bar pivoted to one side member abovesaid axis for releasably engaging the leg to maintain it in verticalposition, a spring-pressed locking detent for the latch on the otherside member, the free end of the latch comprising a handle portion and apart carried by the handle portion moved by the grasping action of thefingers when taking hold of the handle to free the detent from thelatch.

GEORGE E. EVENS.

REFERENCES CITED Thev following references are of record in th file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name n Date 320,621 Brooks June 23, 18851,383,156 Sherman June 28, 1921

